2011 – 2014 REPORT Human Rights Through Sign Languages
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WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF | 2011 – 2014 REPORT Human Rights Through Sign Languages Table of Contents WFD was established in Rome, Italy in 1951, and is an international non-governmental organisation with membership comprising 134 Ordinary Members in addition to Individual Members, Associate Members and International Members. The WFD also has eight (8) Regional Secretariats and one (1) Regional Cooperating About WFD 3 Member. WFD's office is located in Helsinki, Finland. Message From The President 5 WFD Board 7 LOCATION Physical: PO Box: WFD Secretariat 11 Light House, P.O. Box 65 Ilkantie 4 FIN-00401 Current Members of WFD 12 Helsinki, Finland Helsinki, Finland WFD Global Impact 19 ENQUIRIES WFD Secretariat Achieving Objectives 20 Tel: +358 9 580 3573 WFD Expert Groups 35 WFD Regional Secretariats 40 EMAIL ADDRESSES Info(at)wfdeaf.org WFD Finances 47 For general information and enquiries Future Directions 54 Memberships(at)wfdeaf.org For people wanting to join as a member info(at)wfdeaf.org For people ordering t-shirts and other WFD merchandise WFD acknowledges and thanks all our members, partners, supporters and staff featured in the photos in this report with special thanks to Mr Braam Jordaan for designing the WFD Board meeting advertisements. 2 ABOUT THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF VISION Deaf people have full human rights in an equal world where they and their sign languages are recognised and included as part of human diversity. MISSION The WFD promotes and advances the human rights of deaf people through cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies, national organisations of deaf people, and other partners. The World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) has consultative status within the United Nations (UN) system. In this role, the WFD works closely with the UN and its various agencies in promoting the human rights of deaf people in accordance with the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other general acts and recommendations of the UN and its specialised agencies, e.g. the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). WFD also has participatory status within the Council of Europe (COE) and is a member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA). 3 12 |ABOUT THE WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF ACTIVITIES WFD pursues its objectives by guiding and supporting the activities of its members, supporting the establishment of new organisations when necessary: a) developing initiatives and proposals in order to improve the status of deaf people and making statements on issues concerning deaf people; b) promoting the status of Sign Language on the basis of the constitutions in the respective countries of its members; c) promoting cultural activities of deaf people and accessibility to cultural services in general; d) providing information and resources; e) increasing equal opportunities for full AIMS participation for deaf people in society; In accordance with the principles and f) promoting the establishment and objectives of the United Nations (UN) Charter, expansion of Sign Language interpreting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights services in all countries; including the Convention on the Rights of g) implementing initiatives so that deaf Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other people have the necessary equipment to general acts and recommendations of the UN control their lives by making use of modern and its specialised agencies, WFD shall technology; develop its activities with the goal of h) supporting the human rights of deaf equalisation of opportunities and full people; participation in society by deaf individuals in i) participating on an international level in every country. cooperation with other organisations of deaf, hard of hearing and other disabled Accordingly, the WFD works towards the people and authorities; global achievement of human rights for all j) dissemination of scientific and legal deaf people. These aims include: materials on the current needs of deaf • To advocate for full access to society, people in publications and other media; including education in sign language, by k) distribution of and ensuring the availability which deaf people can enjoy the same of UN documents to organisations and experts interested in deafness; equality and human rights of that of all l) administering development cooperation other peoples, activities; and • To promote the establishment of local, m) taking other action which serves the national and regional organisations of objectives of the WFD and the deaf people and to guide and support improvement of the status of deaf people activities of all its members, worldwide. • To ensure that deaf people in every country have the right to promote and preserve their own sign languages and receive support for the advancement of their cultural and linguistic identities. 4 21 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 2011 • XVI World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf hosted by the Deaf Federation of South Africa, Durban, South Africa with 2,100 delegates attending from 125 countries. • WFD Regional Secretariat of the Western and Central Africa was established in July 2011. • WFD celebrated its 60th birthday in 2011 as one of the oldest organisations of persons with disabilities. • Organisational Team Building: WFD Board, WFDYS Board and WFD Staff Members received two days training from the previous WFD President Markku Jokinen and developed a list of activities and key performance indicators in line with the four year action plan. 2012 • WFD became the official employer of WFD staff members. • WFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Federation Dear Members, for the Protection of the Disabled (KFPD). • WFD and European Union of the Deaf (EUD) As President of the World Federation of the renewed their cooperation agreement. Deaf, it gives me great pleasure to present • WFD Honorary President Markku Jokinen this report covering the period 2011 - 2014; in received his honorary doctorate from particular, to highlight some of the many Gallaudet University. This accomplishment achievements effected in line with the four recognises his dedication to and leadership goals from the WFD Action Plan 2011-2015: of the deaf community and the prominent role he played in the CRPD Ad Hoc 1. International Human Rights Advocacy negotiations. 2. Human Rights Training Activities 3. Expanding Information Distribution and 2013 External Communications • WFD signed a Memorandum of 4. Strengthening the WFD Understanding with the International Deaf Emergency (IDE), International Committee During the last four years, the WFD has of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and the experienced a number of highlights. Of International Federation of Hard of Hearing particular note was the United Nations (IFHOH). Human Rights Award presented to WFD • WFD received project funding to implement Honorary President Dr Liisa Kauppinen and Human Rights Training in Azerbaijan and El the organising of the 2nd International Salvador and Peru and employed a Human Conference of the WFD - hosted by the Deaf Rights Officer. Society of New South Wales in my home city • 2nd International Conference of the World of Sydney, Australia. Other projects and Federation of the Deaf in Sydney, Australia activities that I would like to include: was organised with 660 delegates from 67 countries. 5 43 |MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Phillipa Sandholm, Eeva Tupi, Laura Pajunen, Heidi-Maria Helenius, Torun Eklund, Peggy Prosser and Nafisah Rantasalmi, and especially Meri Hyrske-Fischer who manages, mentors and leads the team – MERCI! Lastly, I gratefully acknowledge and recognise all the Board Members for their contribution to the governance and oversight of the WFD throughout the period and all the members of the WFD Expert Groups for their valuable input arising from their specialist knowledge. On a final note, I wish to acknowledge the support from our Board Members’ country National Associations of the Deaf for their ongoing support in covering Board Member’s travel expenses to attend Board meetings over the four-year period. • WFD Honorary President Dr Liisa Kauppinen 1. Deaf Australia and Australian was awarded the United Nations Human Federation of the Deaf Societies Rights Award in December 2013. 2. Deaf Federation of South Africa 2014 3. Finnish Association of the Deaf • Ms Hend Al-Showaier, a deaf woman from 4. Norwegian Association of the Deaf Saudi-Arabia, was appointed as a Regional 5. National Association of the Deaf (USA) Director for the Interim Regional Secretariat 6. British Deaf Association for the Arab Region. 7. All-Russian Society of the Deaf • WFD obtained funding support of 50,000€ 8. Mexican Federation of the Deaf from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (a 9. Nepal Deaf Federation total of 200,000€ in 2011-2014) which was 10. Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of directly included in the Finnish government the Deaf and Hard of Hearing budget in the first phase of budget 11. Turkish National Federation of the Deaf legislation. • The Human Rights Group Chair, Dr Joseph The WFD Board and Secretariat look forward Murray and Human Rights Officer Eeva Tupi to continuing to work tirelessly during the next conducted a preparatory mission to Tunisia, period (2016 – 2019) on behalf of the Deaf funded by the Finnish Foreign Ministry, as Community to facilitate the realisation of deaf part of a planning project for the Maghreb individual’s human rights worldwide. With your Region. support, as an organisation that is truly • WFD created the new position of representative of our members, we can Development Officer with a focus on ensure that we continue to make great strides fundraising with the aim of ensuring the towards equality for deaf people. ongoing sustainability of the WFD. I hope you enjoy reading this report! I would like to invite you to read this report that captures the most important moments of this term 2011-2014.